Weighty agenda faces Hudsonville Planning Commission

The Hudsonville Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday to consider a new commercial construction project, and a rezoning request from Hudsonville Public Schools.

Family Dollar has plans to build a retail store at the northeast corner of Balsam Drive and Chicago Drive, just north of the railroad tracks in Hudsonville. Developers will present a site plan for the construction at the meeting. The Planning Commission may vote on the plan. No rezoning is required.

City Planner Dan Strikwerda said the proposed commercial building is 11,400 square feet, with 8,000 to be occupied by Family Dollar. Demolition of the old building on the property has already been completed.

Also on the agenda will be discussion of rezoning requested by Hudsonville Public Schools. The district has made a bid to purchase a small two-unit commercial building at 3520 Allen St., at the southeast corner of Cherry Avenue. The building is surrounded by school property that will be the site of a new high school and transportation center.

The Planning Commission also may discuss the zoning of the vacant property along the east side of Balsam Drive north of Chicago Drive. The land, now in use for crops, was once approved for a high-density residential development. The approval has expired and Strikwerda said the city will now have to decide future use options.